The Week in iPad Cases: A midsummer's night case

As summer approaches, the benefits of having an iPad multiply—in fact, I wrote this week’s roundup on the magical tablet itself, aided by a healthy dose of sunshine and an excellent Cuban cigar. Alas, the great outdoors—even the backyard variety—are fraught with peril for our favourite tablet, from dirt to dust to surfaces that seem designed to scratch and dent its screen and aluminium back.

Luckily, there's no shortage of cases to help keep our mobile friends safe both at home and on the go, as you can see from this week’s case roundup.

Modulr's case with headrest strap

Modulr: This company’s homonymous series of products (iPad 1 and iPad 2; $40 and up) includes, as its name suggests, a basic case and several interconnecting accessories that can be adapted to different uses and functions The accessories include a cover ($20), a shoulder strap ($20), a hand strap ($15), a wall mount ($20), and a headrest strap ($20). A new version of the system compatible with the iPad 2 will available this summer, and buyers will be able to customize their cases and accessories through CaféPress.

Sena's Borsetta

Sena: The Borsetta (iPad 2; $150) looks like a high-end leather designer purse (“borsetta” is Italian for “handbag,” in case you were wondering where the name comes from) and works both as a carrying case with two separate compartments and as a viewing and typing stand. It is available in black, red, pink, or white, and if you pre-order, you get a reduced price of $140.

Speck's SmartShell

Speck: The SmartShell (iPad 2; $35) is a hard, polycarbonate shell, available in black or clear, that protects the back of the iPad 2 while retaining compatibility with Apple's Smart Cover. The case's ultrathin and ultralight material has a soft feel but doesn't add significant bulk, and it provides all the appropriate cutouts to ensure that the iPad's connectors and camera remain accessible.

Switcheasy's Nude

Switcheasy: The Nude (iPad 2; $30) is a back cover made of ultra-thin, scratch-resistant polycarbonate. It features all the appropriate cutouts to ensure easy access to the tablet’s ports and camera openings, and is available in blue, pink, lime, red, white, black, or clear. Switcheasy also includes a number of goodies with the cover, including two fold-out stands, a screen film, and protectors for both the headphone jack and dock-connector port.

USBFever's Jeans Look Pouch

USB Fever: The Jeans Look Pouch (iPad and iPad 2; $15) is, as you would expect from its name, made entirely of black denim with yellow and blue stitching and looks, well, exactly like a pair of jeans—including a faux zipper on the front and two back pockets that can hold your phone or a couple of cables.

Vaja Cases's Libretto

Vaja Cases: The Libretto (iPad and iPad 2; $160) is a folio-style case made of fine leather. It features a microfiber lining, and its magnetic closure is compatible with the iPad 2's automatic sleep/wake feature. The case is handmade (which explains why it takes twenty-five days to make one), and both the interior and exterior materials can be customized in a multitude of colors.

Y-Case's Wallet Leather Case

Y-Case: The Wallet Leather Case (iPad 2; price unavailable) is a folio case that can double as a multiple-angle viewing stand in landscape orientation. A separate version, featuring a Smart Cover-like cover to protect the front of the tablet, is also available.